Intercropping study in sugarcane

Abstract

Field trials were conducted to evaluate the performance of some horticultural crops and their effect on sugarcane under intercropping system at the upland sugarcane experimental field of the National Cereals Research Institute farm, Badeggi (9° 45’ N, 06° 07’ E ) in the Southern Guina Savanna of Nigeria in 1997 and 1998 dry seasons. The seven treatments tested consisted of sole sugarcane (Bida Local or Ajax chewing -cane), sole crops of watermelon (Citrus vulgaris var. calabar), tomato(Lycopersicum esculntum var. Labonita), Okra(Abelmoschus esculentus var. V. 35) and their respective intercropped mixtures. Exception of canes intercropped with watermelon canes and the vegetable crops maintained a stable crop vigour throughout the growth period and there were non significant differences in the fresh weight of fruits of companion crop harvested from either the pure stands or in mixture with cane.